Ah was born back due un slavery so it wasn't for me to fulfill my dreams of what a woman oughta be and to do. Dat's one of de hold-backs of slavery. But nothing can't stop you from wishin'. You can't beat nobody down so low till you can rob 'em of they will. Ah didn't want to be used for a work-ox and a brood-sow and Ah didn't want mah daughter used that way either.""

Nanny Crawford is specking these words to her granddaughter Janie mae Crawford.

The daughter referred to in the speech is Leafy Crawford, Janie's mother and Nanny's daughter.

Explanation:

The excerpt is from Zora Neale Hurston's novel "Their Eyes Were Watching God". This book revolves round the theme of the discriminatory lives of the blacks among the white folks.

The passage is from the second chapter of the book where Janie's grandmother had told her about her choice of husband for her granddaughter. She told her of her slavery birth, her upbringing n the plantations and how it was tough for a girl to be a slave. And that is why she had wanted her to marry Logan Killicks who may be a much older guy but have the means to provide security and social standing for Janie.

Nanny or Grandma Crawford is talking to Janie about the prospect of marrying Killicks.

"Mah daughter" in the speech refers to Nanny's daughter Leafy Crawford, Janie's mother.